>>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY: >>> COMING UP ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK," LOCAL LEADERS SAY GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN'S PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX REFORM WOULD CRIPPLE THEIR MUNICIPAL SERVICES.

>> POLICE AND FIRE SALARIES ARE 82% OF OUR GENERAL FUND.

>> THE REFORM PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO ELIMINATE NEARLY $2 BILLION IN FUNDING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

>> FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE ENTERING THE TEACHING PROFESSION.

I SPOKE WITH ADMINISTRATORS ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

>> WE ADDED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS LOTS OF THINGS TO TEACHERS' PLATES.

>> AND THE INDIANA DNR IS CONSIDERING HOW MANY BOB CATS IT WILL ALLOW TO BE TRAPPED IN THE STATE UNDER A NEW GUIDELINE THAT WILL TAKE EFFECT IN JULY.

>>> THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT NOW ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

I'M JOE HREN.

GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN SENT A MESSAGE TUESDAY TO LOCAL LEADERS WHO SAY HIS PROPERTY TAX PROPOSAL WOULD DECIMATE THEIR BUDGETS.

PROVE IT.

BRAUN HOSTED CITIZENS IN HIS OFFICE TO HIGHLIGHT THE NEED FOR RELIEF AS THE MAYOR HAS TESTIFIED AT THE STATE HOUSE THAT BRAUN'S PROPOSAL WOULD MEAN SLASHING VITAL SERVICES.

AND AS PAT BEANE REPORTS, THE PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO ELIMINATE ALMOST $2 BILLION FROM STATE SCHOOLS OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

>> BRAUN'S PLAN WOULD COST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NOT INCLUDING SCHOOLS, MORE THAN HALF A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR STATEWIDE.

LOCAL LEADERS LIKE TERRE HAUTE MAYOR SAKBUN.

>> AND CARAMEL MAYOR SAYS THEY HAVE USED GROWING PROPERTY TAX REVENUES TO MEET RISING COSTS.

>> FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE 2020, COST TO REPAVE A MILE OF ROAD HAS SURGED 43%.

AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL RESPONSE COSTS HAVE JUMPED 33%, BOTH OF THESE FIGURES EXCLUDE RISING PERSONNEL COSTS.

>> BUT REPUBLICAN SENATOR TYLER JOHNSON SAYS IT'S LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE IN PART TO BLAME FOR WHY LAWMAKERS ARE EXPLORING SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX CUTS.

>> YOU COULD HAVE HELPED YOUR CONSTITUENTS BY, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVING THESE HUGE INCREASE?

THEIR TAX BILLS.

>> MARK GROSS SAYS HIS PROPERTY TAXES HAVE INCREASED ABOUT $200 A MONTH OVER THE LAST DECADE.

HE SAYS HE'S FRUSTRATED THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DON'T MEET THE SAME FISCAL DISCIPLINE HE HAS TO USE.

>> COUNTY TAXES HAS A BLANK CHECK SO TO SPEAK TO JUST KEEP SAYING WE NEED MORE MONEY, WE NEED MORE MONEY.

>> THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX RELIEF BILL WOULD IMPACT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHOSE LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE COMES FROM PROPERTY TAXES.

UNDER THE BILL, PUBLIC SCHOOLS STAND TO LOSE MORE THAN $1.8 BILLION BETWEEN 2026 AND 2028.

BRAUN SAYS SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHO SAY THEY NEED A STREAM OF PROPERTY TAX REVENUE TO THRIVE SHOULD PROVE IT.

>> PROVE IT.

PROVE IT, THAT YOU DON'T SALT AWAY A LOT, THAT YOU DIDN'T OVERBURDEN THE TAXPAYER.

>> MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS SAYS IT EXPECTS TO RECEIVE JUST UNDER $74 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FOR 2025, BUT UNDER THE PROPOSED TAX CUT, THEY WOULD LOSE A LITTLE MORE THAN $10 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES IN 2026 AND $14 MILLION IN 2028.

BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY SCHOOLS WOULD LOSE $6.5 MILLION IN 2026 AND VIGO COUNTY SCHOOLS WOULD LOSE ALMOST $3.5 MILLION.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M PAT BEANE.

>>> AN INITIAL COMMITTEE VOTE ON MAJOR PROPERTY TAX LEGISLATION IS EXPECTED NEXT WEEK.

>>> TEACHER SHORTAGES CONTINUE TO HAMPER SCHOOLS IN INDIANA.

THERE ARE OVER 2700 VACANT EDUCATOR POSITIONS IN THE STATE.

ISABELLA VESPIRINI JOINS US FROM BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL TO TELL US MORE ABOUT HOW SCHOOL CORPORATIONS AND UNIVERSITIES ARE ADDRESSING THE ISSUE.

>> THANKS, JOE.

RURAL AREAS LIKE BEDFORD ARE BEING HIT ESPECIALLY HARD BY THE LACK OF TEACHERS ENTERING THE PROFESSION.

I SPOKE WITH A TEACHER AT BEDFORD NORTH LAWRENCE HIGH SCHOOL TO SEE HOW SHE AND OTHER TEACHERS ARE COPING.

>> IT'S HARD FOR LACY HAWKINS, A SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER TO FIND A WORK-LIFE BALANCE WHEN HER JOB IS SO DEMANDING.

SHE DESCRIBED THE HOURLY PAY ABYSMAL WHEN IT'S CALCULATED BY THE MANY HOURS SHE WORKS.

>> I GET HERE AROUND 6:30 AND SCHOOL STARTS AT 8:00, AND I'M NOT THE FIRST ONE IN THE PARKING LOT.

THERE ARE A HALF DOZEN CARS IN THE SMALL LOT WHERE I PARK.

AND I KNOW -- THE SAME THING WHEN I LEAVE.

SOMETIMES I LEAVE.

THEY ARE MISSING A SPANISH TEACHER.

AND FINING MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS IS ALSO A CHALLENGE.

EVEN THOUGH TEACHER SALARIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT HAVE GOTTEN CLOSER TO THE STATE AVERAGE, VACANCIES ATTRACT ONLY ONE OR TWO APPLICANTS.

WHEN HAWKINS STARTED TEACHING 15 YEARS AGO, THE FIELD WAS MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE.

>> I WENT THROUGH TWO ROUNDS.

INTERVIEWS TO GET MY JOB.

AND NOW IT'S LIKE SOMEONE APPLIED!

RIGHT?

WE WILL HIRE THEM.

AND THAT'S -- THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT.

>> AMONG THE STATE'S VACANT EDUCATOR POSITIONS, WHICH RANGE FROM ADMINISTRATION TO SCHOOL OPERATIONS, MORE THAN 1,400 ARE TEACHING-SPECIFIC ROLES.

NATIONALLY IN 2023, THERE WERE OVER 55,000 OPEN K-12 TEACHING POSITIONS.

>> IT'S A REALLY STRESSFUL JOB.

WE'RE GETTING THEM TO -- WE'RE GETTING TEACHERS TO DO MORE WITH LESS TIME.

WE HAVE ADDED OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS LOTS OF THINGS TO TEACHERS' PLATES.

WE HAVE ADDED MENTAL HEALTH CRISES TO THEIR PLATES AND GUN VIOLENCE TO THEIR PLATES.

>> TO ACCOUNT FOR THE OPEN TEACHER POSITIONS THEY COMBINE CLASSES OR OUTSOURCE AND FIND AN ONLINE TEACHER, OFTEN FROM THE STAFF OF VINCENNES UNIVERSITY OR INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY.

>> AND THAT'S FRUSTRATING FOR THOSE KIDS BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE HUMIDITY INTERACTION AND THE ABILITY FOR A -- THE HUMAN INTERACTION AND THE ABILITY FOR A TEACHER TO BE IN THE ROOM AND MANIPULATING THINGS AND SETTING UP SIMULATIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> THERE ARE TEN FULL-TIME POSITIONS AND THREE PART-TIME POSITIONS OPEN WITHIN THE MONROE COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION.

>> I WOULDN'T DESCRIBE OUR SITUATION AS HAVING A SHORTAGE.

I WOULD DESCRIBE OUR SITUATION AS HAVING A SMALLER CANDIDATE POOL THAN 10 OR 15 YEARS AGO.

>> MCCSC OFFERS VARIOUS BENEFITS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

MANY STUDENTS FROM I.U.

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION ALSO GO ON TO TEACH IN MCCSC SCHOOLS, HELPING FILL OPEN POSITIONS.

BUT TURNOVER FOR YOUNG TEACHERS IS RELATIVELY HIGH.

>> THOSE INDIVIDUALS AFTER TWO OR THREE YEARS SOMETIMES WILL MAKE THE DECISION TO RELOCATE.

THEY WILL MOVE BACK CLOSER TO HOME.

THEY WILL MOVE TO A LOCATION WHERE A SIGNIFICANT OTHER HAS A JOB.

>> SALARIES WITHIN THE CORPORATION ARE COMPETITIVE.

FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, MCCSC STARTING SALARY FOR A TEACHER WITH A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WAS $52,150 AND $55,275 FOR A MASTER OF SCIENCE.

THOSE SALARIES INCREASED NEARLY $5,000 FOR THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR.

ACROSS THE STATE FOR THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR, THE AVERAGE TEACHER SALARY WAS $60,557.

ACCORDING TO THE INDIANA EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS BOARD, VARIOUS EDUCATION BILLS ARE BEING PROPOSED THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO RAISE THE MINIMUM SALARY, BUT SOME ARE WORRIED ABOUT LOSING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS WHICH ALLOWS TEACHER UNIONS TO NEGOTIATE TEACHER PAY.

>> WHEN THAT HAPPENS, I, UNFORTUNATELY FORESEE A HUGE EXODUS OF, YOU KNOW, CERTIFIED TEACHERS TO OTHER STATES WHERE THOSE MEASURES ARE STILL IN PLACE.

>> THE TEACHER SHORTAGE IS HIGHEST IN MATH, SCIENCE AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.

OVER THE LAST 10 TO 20 YEARS, QUINTA HAS SEEN FEWER STUDENTS PURSUING AN EDUCATION DEGREE AT I.U.

>> I THINK THE ENTHUSIASM FOR THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE TO BE TEACHERS IS STILL REMAINING HIGH.

SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE USED TO BE 20 STRONG EACH YEAR ARE NOW FOUR OR FIVE EACH YEAR.

>> BY COMMITTING HERSELF TO TEACHING AND PROVIDING HER STUDENTS WITH A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, HAWKINS HOPES SHE CAN SEE THE VALUE IN EDUCATION.

>> SOMETIMES THEY SAY, I LIKE THIS.

THEY WANT TO GIVE TO THE NEXT GENERATION.

SO I MEAN, IT'S SMALL, BUT I THINK THAT'S, FOR ME, THE BEST I CAN SEE IS, LIKE, OH, I CAN GIVE 100%, LIKE GIVE MY BEST TO THESE KIDS AND HOPE THAT THEY TAKE THAT AND MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT ON THE WORLD.

>> FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M ISABELLA VESPIRINI.

>>> EARLIER THIS WEEK, WE REPORTED THAT INDIANA UNIVERSITY SPENT $13,500 TO CHARTER A PRIVATE JET FOR BOARD OF TRUSTEES QUINN BUCKNER.

THE UNIVERSITY CHARTERED THE FLIGHT TO GET BUCKNER FROM A MARCH 1st BOARD MEETING IN JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA, TO NEW ORLEANS FOR AN INDIANA PACERS GAME THAT NIGHT.

BUCKNER IS A TELEVISION ANALYST AND WHY DID I.U.

AND NOT BUCKNER OR THE PACERS PAY?

>> SO I. U. REIMBURSES TRUSTEES FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES WHICH MAKES SENSE BECAUSE THEY ARE ON UNIVERSITY BUSINESS, BUT YOU SAY THIS PRIVATE JET NIGHT IS UNUSUAL.

HOW UNUSUAL?

>> WELL, MY INFORMATION REQUEST ONLY GOES BACK TO 2021.

I.U.

HAS CHARTERED TWO NONATHLETIC FLIGHTS SINCE THEN AND THE OTHER WAS THE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO AN I.U.

CAMPUS.

IT'S RARE.

I TALKED TO A FORMER ADMINISTRATOR WHO SAID THEY OCCASIONALLY CHARTERED FLIGHTS BUT MULTIPLE TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATORS WOULD SHARE A PLANE FROM BLOOMINGTON.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THE UNIVERSITY HAS EVER USED A PRIVATE JET TO GET A SINGLE TRUSTEE FROM A MEETING TO AN UNRELATED OUT-OF-STATE JOB.

>> SO THIS FLIGHT WAS PAID FOR BY THE I.U.

FOUNDATION, NOT THE UNIVERSITY.

NOW, THE FOUNDATION IS FUNDED BY INVESTMENTS AND DONATIONS, LIKE YOU MENTIONED.

WHY DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> SO FOR THE CONTEXT, THE I.U.

FOUNDATION IS A SEPARATE NONPROFIT THAT RUNS UNIVERSITY'S ENDOWMENT, ALTHOUGH THE PRESIDENT IS STILL THE PRESIDENT OF I.U.

SINCE THEY GET MONEY FROM TAX DOLLARS, FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID AND TUITION, IT'S A LOT MORE RESTRICTED IN HOW THEY CAN USE THEIR FUNDS, THE FOUNDATION IS LESS RESTRICTIVE.

FINANCIAL RECORDS SAY IT NEEDED TO BE COVERED BY THE FOUNDATION SINCE IT WAS A PRIVATE JET.

THAT MIGHT BE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T FIT I.U.

'S BUSINESS PURPOSE RULES OR ABOVE THE ALLOWABLE PER DIEM.

>> YOU SAID IT'S MORE THAN 200 FLIGHTS I.U.

HAS CHARTERED SINCE 2021, MOSTLY FOR ATHLETICS.

DO YOU HAVE A SENSE FOR HOW MUCH THEY HAVE COST.

>> THE UNIVERSITY HAS SPENT $23.5 MILLION ON CHARTER FLIGHTS.

>> ETHAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COVERAGE OF THAT STORY.

>>> ABOUT 500 PROTESTERS JOINED A NATIONWIDE PROTEST AGAINST THE TRUMP AND THE PROJECT 2025.

THEY HAVE PROMISE TO REMOVE LIMITS ON EXECUTIVE POWER WHILE BOOSTING SOCIALLY CONSERVATIVE POLICIES.

THE PROTEST WAS ORGANIZED ON INSTAGRAM AND REDDIT AND CALLS ITSELF 5051 WHICH STANDS FOR 50 STATES IN 50 PROTESTS ON ONE DAY.

>> THEY DO NOT HAVE A MANDATE TO IMPOSE WHATEVER THEY WANT UPON US.

THEY -- TRUMP WON WITH LIKE 1.4% OF THE VOTE.

HE DID NOT -- HE BARELY WON IS OUR POINT AND HE STILL HAS TO BE BEHOLDEN TO THE ELECTORATE.

>> THIS WOMAN SAYS SHE WAS PROTESTING SINCE 196.

SHE'S WORRIED FOR HER TRANSGENDER GRANDDAUGHTERS.

>> I'M TIRED OF THIS.

THERE'S NEVER BEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

NEVER BEEN REMOTELY CLOSE TO THE KINDS OF INJUSTICES ARE THAT ARE GOING ON, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST WEEKS.

>> SOME PROTESTERS CARRIED SIGNS AND LED CHANTS AGAINST INDIANA GOVERNOR MIKE BRAUN AND BILLIONAIRE ELON MUSK.

>>> MEMBERS OF THE MONROVIA COMMUNITY SPOKE AGAINST A PROPOSED DATA CENTER IN MORGAN COUNTY AT A TOWN HALL MEETING TUESDAY NIGHT.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STILL UNKNOWN DEVELOPER AND END USER OF THE SITE PRESENTED THE PROPOSAL BEFORE ANSWERING SUBMITTED QUESTIONS.

MANY QUESTIONS RECEIVED NONSPECIFIC ANSWERS WHICH LED TO AN ANGRY REACTION AT THE MEETING.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHY IT'S PARTLY -- PARTLY WHY THEY WANT TO KEEP IT A LITTLE QUIET.

THEY WANT TO ACQUIRE THE LAND.

THAT'S ONE REASON WHY THEY KEEP IT QUIET AND THEN THEY WANT TO NOT PROBABLY HAVE THIS TO THE VERY END, RIGHT?

>> THE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE MORGAN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO BRING THE PROJECT TO A 390-ACRE SPAN OF FARMLAND NORTH OF STATE ROAD 42.

THE MORGAN COUNTY COMMISSION WILL HEAR THE ISSUE ON MONDAY.

>>> THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES IS CONSIDERING NEW RULES FOR HOW MANY BOBCATS CAN BE TRAPPED IN THE STATE.

AND McCORMICK'S CREEK HAS SET UP A STATION WHERE VISITORS CAN SUBMIT PHOTOS TO TRACK THE PARK'S RECOVERY FROM A DEVASTATING TORNADO.

THESE STORIES AND MORE, RIGHT HERE ON "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

>>> WELCOME BACK TO "INDIANA NEWSDESK."

BOBCATS, THE ONLY RESIDENT NATIVE WILDCAT IN INDIANA HAVE HAD A POPULATION RESURGENCE SINCE BEING PLACED ON THE ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST IN 1969.

NOW, THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ARE ONE STEP CLOSER TO ALLOWING TRAPPERS TO HARVEST BOBCATS IN A LIMITED CAPACITY.

CLAYTON BAUMGARTH LASS MORE.

>> THEY ARE COMMON IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE WHERE INDIANA MEETS KENTUCKY.

IT'S THERE WHERE TRAPPERS CAN GET BOBCAT PELTS LEGALLY.

>> THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, YOU ARE ALLOWED FIVE BOBCATS PER SEASON, PER LICENSE.

THREE OF THEM CAN BE HUNTED, BUT ALL FIVE CAN BE TRAPPED.

>> THROUGH A NEW RULE BEING CONSIDERED BY THE DNR A BOBCAT TRAPPING SEASON WOULD BE ALLOWED IN 40 SOUTHERN INDIANA COUNTIES THAT WOULD ALLOW BUN BOBCAT PER COUNTY AND A STATEWIDE HARVEST CAP OF 250.

IT'S MUCH MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN IN KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, ARKANSAS AND MORE.

>> YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HARVEST AS MANY AS YOU WANT TO AND TO BE QUITE FRANK WITH YOU, I HAVE BEEN IN SOME OF THOSE STATES AND OUR POPULATION IS HIGHER THAN THOSE STATES.

>> WOW.

>> SO I THINK WE HAVE GOT A REALLY STRONG NUMBER, ESPECIALLY HERE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

>> THE STATE LEGISLATORS PASSED A BILL REQUIRING THE DNR TO REQUIRE BOBCAT TRAPPING RULES FOR JULY OF 2025.

THEY CAN KILL LIVESTOCK AND OTHER WILD ANIMALS INCLUDING TURKEYS.

>> WE DON'T WANT TO TAKE THIS ANIMAL INTO EXTINCTION.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE IT BETTER.

AND I THINK THE DNR HAS STARTED WITH A GOOD WAY TO DO THAT.

>> THOUGH EARNINGS HIMSELF HASN'T HAD THOSE ISSUES WITH BOBCATS, HE DOES SEE THEM OFTEN ON HIS PROPERTY.

>> I HAVE BEEN TURNING THEM LOOSE FOR 10 OR 12 YEARS NOW.

IT WAS COOL THE FIRST TIME.

THEN IT GOT OLD QUICK.

>> THE PROPOSED RULE, LIKE ANY REGARDING CONSERVATION WILDLIFE HAS GARNERED CONTROVERSY.

EVERYONE EXCEPT ONE PERSON WAS AGAINST TRAPPING BOBCATS, THE ONE IN FAVOR -- DIDN'T FEEL IT WENT FAR ENOUGH.

>> IT'S 40 COUNTIES, 250, I MEAN, THAT'S AN INSIGNIFICANT NUMBER.

THEY ARE OVERPOPULATING.

THEY ARE THE NUMBER ONE PREDATOR IN INDIANA NOW.

AND THEY -- THEY WILL KILL EVERYTHING!

>> OTHERS AT THE MEETING HAD MANY CRITICISMS.

SOME SAID THE RULE IS ONLY BEING MADE TO BENEFIT TRAPPERS AT THE EXPENSE OF HARMING A RARE SPECIES.

>> WE RECENTLY DID A STUDY, A PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY SAID THAT 75% OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF INDIANA, ACROSS ALL POLITICAL DEMOGRAPHICS OPPOSE TROPHY HUNTING OF BOBCATS.

>> MOST EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE DNR DID NOT RELEASE ENOUGH EVIDENCE THAT THE BOBCAT POPULATION COULD LIVE FOR MORE THAN A FEW YEARS.

>> WE NEED TO KNOW HOW MANY BOBCATS WE CAN SUSTAINABLY TAKE BEFORE WE OPEN UP A SEASON FOR TRAPPING.

>> OTHERS SAY BOBCATS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN THE FOOD CHAIN.

>> THEY REGULATE THE MAMMALS, LIKE THE WHITE-FOOTED WHICH CARRIES THE LYME DISEASE.

THIS IS GOING TO HELP TO MITIGATE THIS PUBLIC HEALTH RISK.

>> THE CLAIM THAT BOBCATS HUNT TURKEYS SIMPLY IS NOT TRUE.

THE DNR THEMSELVES HAVE PUBLISHED ON THEIR WEB PAGE A STATEMENT SAYING THAT THEY HAVE NEVER, IN ALL OF INDIANA RESEARCH DOCUMENTED A BOBCAT PREYING ON A TURKEY.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE SENATOR GOT HIS INFORMATION.

>> ON THE PAGE HE'S REFERRING TO, THE DNR SAYS IT DOES DID NOT DOCUMENT BOBCAT CONSUMPTION OF A TURKEY, BUT THEY WOULD EAT ONE IF HUNGRY ENOUGH.

HE SAYS SOME OF THE PAPERS DNR CITES ARE UNDER A PAY WALL AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC SO OTHERS CAN ANALYZE IT.

>> WHAT I ASK OF THE DNR AND THE NRC IS TO MAKE THIS ANALYSIS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT SCIENTISTS, LIKE MYSELF, CAN SCRUTINIZE THIS MODEL, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO OUR BOBCAT POPULATIONS.

>> THE DNR AND THE NRC WILL REVIEW WHAT THEY RECEIVED ON THE RULE AND DECIDE WHETHER TO CHANGE IT BEFORE IT BECOMES OFFICIAL ON JULY 1st.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M CLAYTON BAUMGARTH.

>> IF THE NEW RULE IS APPROVED, THE FIRST BOBCAT TRAPPING SEASON WOULD BEGIN THIS FALL.

>> NOW, FOR MORE HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE HOUSE.

>> THE INDIANA SENATE APPROVED A BILL ON THURSDAY TO BAN DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES IN STATE GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE LEGISLATION, A COMBINATION OF TWO BILLS ADVANCED BY SENATE COMMITTEE SAYS THAT STATE AGENCIES MAY NOT GIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT TO ANYONE BASED ON RACE, SEX, COLOR OR ETHNICITY.

CRITICS SAY IT'S DESIGNED TO INSTILL FEAR AND WILL UNDO GENERATIONS OF PROGRESS.

>> ELIMINATING D.E.I.

MEANS TURNING A BLIND EYE TO THESE DISPARITIES.

IT MEANS PRETENDING THAT BIASES DOES NOT EXIST.

>> THE SENATE APPROVED THE BILL BY A 34-13 VOTE.

THE MEASURE NOW HEADS TO THE HOUSE.

>> A CONTROVERSIAL CIVICS BILL THAT WOULD PROMOTE FOSTERING A NATIONAL IDENTITY BY TEACHING SOME TOPICS AND PROHIBITING OTHERS RECEIVED LITTLE SUPPORT FROM A SENATE COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY.

THE BILL'S AUTHOR SAYS IT'S NECESSARY BECAUSE YOUNG AMERICANS DON'T HAVE PRIDE IN THEIR COUNTRY.

>> THE NEXT GENERATION IS NOT CHERISHING THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLES THAT WE VIEW AND DERIVE OUR LIBERTIES FROM.

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO OUR COUNTRY?

WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO OUR NATION?

>> THE BILL'S OPPONENTS SAY THEY WORRY IT WILL HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT THAT WILL PREVENT TEACHERS FROM DISCUSSING HISTORY LIKE SEGREGATION OR SLAVERY.

>>> A BILL THAT COULD CHANGE THE WAY FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX REVENUE IS DISTRIBUTED IN MONROE COUNTY IS MOVING THROUGH THE STATEHOUSE.

HOUSE BILL 1080 WOULD PAVE THE WAY FOR ELLETTSVILLE TO COLLECT MONEY FROM THE MONROE COUNTY FOOD AND BEVERAGE TAX.

ELLETTSVILLE WOULD RECEIVE AN ESTIMATED $245,000 IN REVENUE NEXT YEAR.

>> IT'S THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SERVED BY RURAL TRANSIT IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE ELDERLY SENIOR CITIZENS WHO CANNOT DRIVE AND THEY HAVE TO GET TO THEIR DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS, TO THE PHARMACY.

I MEAN, THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIFE-SAVING KINDS OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED THERE.

>> ELLETTSVILLE WOULD HAVE UNTIL DECEMBER 31st TO ESTABLISH A TAX REVENUE ORDINANCE TO CLAIM THE FUNDING.

>>> AND FINALLY HOOSIERS WOULD BE FORCED TO REGISTER WITH A MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY TO ALLOW TO PARTICIPATE IN PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTIONS UNDER A BILL HEADED TO THE SENATE FLOOR.

INDIANA WOULD JOIN TEN OTHER STATES WITH FULLY CLOSED PRIMARIES.

THE BILL WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ASSIGN PARTY REGISTRATION TO EVERYONE WHO HAS VOTED IN A PARTISAN PRIMARY ELECTION BEFORE.

ANY CHANGE IN PARTY AFFILIATION WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

>> WHAT I DON'T THINK IS -- IS RIGHT IS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT A MEMBER OF A POLITICAL PARTY OR DON'T AFFILIATE WITH THE POLITICAL PARTY TO BE ABLE TO CHOOSE THAT PARTY'S CANDIDATES.

>> IT'S NOT THE ONLY VOTING BILL AT THE STATEHOUSE.

ONE WOULD CUT EARLY VOTING FROM 28 TO 14, AND ANOTHER WOULD BAN STUDENT I.D.s AS A FORM OF VOTER IDENTIFICATION.

>>> AND IN MARCH OF 2023, A TORNADO CARVED A DEADLY PATH THROUGH McCORMICK'S CREEK STATE PARK.

THE CAMPGROUND AND MULTIPLE TRAILS REMAIN CLOSED BECAUSE OF DOWNED TREES AND DAMAGED INFRASTRUCTURE.

AS THE FOREST BEGINS A SLOW ROAD TO RECOVERY, THE INDIANA DNR HAS CREE AD A -- CREATED A SITE WHERE YOU CAN UPLOAD PICTURES AND MONITOR THE REBIRTH.

SOPHIE KAELBLE HAS THIS REPORT.

>> THEY TAKE A PHOTO FROM A STATION OVERLOOKING TORNADO DAMAGE.

THEY UPLOAD TO CHRONOLOG.

A PARK EMPLOYEE SAYS IT HELPS TO TRACK HOW THE FORESTRY GROWS.

>> WILL IT STILL BE DOMINATED BY BEACHES?

OR WILL IT HAVE MORE OAKS?

WE DON'T KNOW.

IT WILL BE EXCITING TO SEE THAT OVER THE NEXT 70 TO 100 YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT.

>> THE TIME LAPSE HAS HAD MORE THAN 100 CONTRIBUTORS.

FILER EXPECTS IT TO BE A 70 YEAR PROJECT.

NATIONAL PARKS SUCH AS INDIANA DUNES USE TIME LAPSE VIDEO TO MONITOR.

IT LETS PEOPLE HELP WHILE REMAINING SAFE.

>> IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO REMOVE TORNADO DEBRIS AND THIS GIVES OUR LOCALS A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AND HELP US BE ABLE TO SEE THE LANDSCAPE CHANGES OVER TIME.

>> FILER SAYS HIKERS CAN REACH THE PHOTO STATION BY PARKING AT THE NATION CENTER OR THE PINE BLUFF SHELTER AND THEN HIKING TRAIL 8 TO TRAIL 5.

IT'S ABOUT HALFWAY TO WOLF CAVE, ADDING THAT THE FULL HIKE IS ABOUT THREE MILES.

FOR "INDIANA NEWSDESK," I'M SOPHIE KAELBLE.

>> THAT'S OUR NEWS FOR TODAY.

OUR NEWS CONTINUES ONLINE AT WTIUNEWS.ORG AS WE COVER THE NEWS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> "INDIANA NEWSDESK" IS MADE